All worksheets / Whitewater
Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Whitewater
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Whitewater challenges you to navigate turbulent Class I through III river rapids in a canoe or kayak. You must earn the Canoeing or Kayaking badge first. You will learn river hydrology, hydraulic hazards, eddy turns, peel-outs, and throw-bag rescues, then complete a real multi-mile whitewater river descent.
Key Requirements Covered:
- River Classification & Whitewater Safety
- Hydraulics: Eddies, Holes & Wave Trains
- River Maneuvers: Ferrying, Turns & Peeling Out
- Whitewater Self-Rescue & Throw-Bag Deployment
10Printable Pages
12Requirements
2026Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Whitewater Requirements
Every requirement for the Whitewater merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Hazards, First Aid, and Safety Afloat
Do the following:
- a Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in whitewater activities, including branches and trees in water along a shore and stretching across the stream, rocks, hydraulics over ledges or low-head dams, strong wind, low water or air temperature, and thunder and lightning storms. Explain what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
- b Review with your counselor the prevention, symptoms, and first-aid treatment for the following injuries or illnesses that could occur while participating in whitewater activities: cold-water shock; hypothermia; head, neck, and back injuries; heat-related illnesses; sunburn; dehydration; blisters; bruises; cuts; sprains and strains; shoulder dislocation; and submersion injuries.
- c Discuss with your counselor the Scouting America Safety Afloat policy and the American Whitewater safety guidelines, including the use of helmet and life jackets.
2River Features and Reading Water
Do the following:
- a Demonstrate understanding of the following river features by drawing lines to show the flow of water: upstream V, downstream V, riffle, eddy with an eddy line, ledge, river bend, shallows, current at different depths, drop, horizon line, and hydraulic.
- b Describe how waves form including standing waves and wave trains.
- c Explain how to tilt or edge the boat without leaning your body
- d Explain when, why, and how you should scout a river while ashore, while on the river, and when you should portage your boat.
3Option Selection
Before doing requirements 4 through 12, earn the Canoeing merit badge if you will be using a canoe to earn this merit badge. If you will be using a kayak, earn the Kayaking merit badge. Then do ONE of the following:
- a If you will be using a canoe to earn this merit badge, demonstrate strokes and maneuvers from the Canoeing merit badge to the satisfaction of your counselor.
- b If you will be using a kayak to earn this merit badge, demonstrate strokes and maneuvers from the Kayaking merit badge to the satisfaction of your counselor.
4Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- Option A—Tandem Canoeist. Do ALL of the following strokes and techniques on calm water
- Option B—Solo Canoeist. Do ALL of the following strokes and techniques on calm water
- Option C—Solo Kayaker. Do ALL of the following strokes and techniques on calm water
5The International Scale of River Difficulty
Do the following:
- a Explain the International Scale of River Difficulty and apply the scale to the stretch of river approved by your counselor.
- b Identify the specific characteristics of the river that are factors in your classification according to the International Scale.
- c Discuss how the level of flow changes a river from one class to another and what effects different flow rates have on the features of a river and its hazards.
6Communication on the River
Explain the importance of communication during every whitewater outing. Demonstrate knowledge and ability to use the following American Whitewater Universal River Signals, both visual and auditory: "Stop," "Are you OK?," "Help/emergency," "Run river right," "Run river left," and "All clear—come ahead."
7Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- a If completing this merit badge in a canoe, describe the various types of canoes used on moving water and how they differ in design, materials, and purpose.
- b If completing this merit badge in a kayak, describe the various types of kayaks used on moving water and explain how they differ in design, materials, and purpose.
8Personal and Group Equipment
Review with your counselor the personal and group equipment necessary for a safe whitewater outing and how and why it is used.
9Safety and First Aid
Demonstrate your ability to read a Class II section of river approved by your counselor. Describe the most desirable paths or lines of travel as well as alternative routes and options. Point out how to use the existing water features to your advantage, and explain how to best avoid the hazards present.
10Boat Handling in Moving Water
Wearing a proper life jacket and being appropriately dressed for the weather and water conditions, perform the following skills in moving water in a properly equipped whitewater craft of your choice (tandem canoe, solo canoe, or solo kayak). If a tandem canoe is used, the skills must be demonstrated from both the bow and stern positions.
- a Launch and land.
- b Paddle forward in a straight line at least 10 boat lengths.
- c Backpaddle in a straight line at least five boat lengths.
- d Ferry upstream from both sides of the river.
- e Ferry downstream from both sides of the river.
- f Eddy turn from both sides of an eddy.
- g Peel out from both sides of an eddy.
11Rescue, Throw Ropes, and the Buddy System
Explain and demonstrate the following to your counselor:
- a Self-rescue and procedures when capsized in moving water, including a wet exit if necessary
- b Proper use of a throw rope to rescue a swimmer in whitewater
- c Proper technique for receiving a throw rope as a swimmer
- d Portaging—where portaging would be appropriate, and when and how to do it
- e The whitewater buddy system using at least three persons and three craft
12Whitewater Trips
Participate in one or more whitewater trips using either a canoe or kayak on a Class I and/or Class II river. The trip(s) must involve at least six hours of paddling time. For each trip:
- a Help to prepare a written plan, specifying the route (put-ins and takeouts), schedule, equipment, safety precautions, and emergency procedures.
- b Determine local rules and obtain permission from landowners and land managers in advance.
- c Explain what steps have been taken to comply with Scouting America Safety Afloat and the American Whitewater safety guidelines.
- d Show how to protect personal and group equipment from water and how to load and secure the containers in boats to be used in the trip. Execute the plans with other paddlers.
- e Explain to your counselor how well your plans worked for each trip taken.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Whitewater requirements in 2026. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/whitewater/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
Spotted a discrepancy on this sheet? Tell us and we will re-check it against the official requirements.
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